Question 1

I felt shaking — was it an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes can be felt at any intensity, from a barely perceptible rumble to violent shaking. Check the list above for recent events near you. If an event occurred in your area within the past 15 minutes, it will usually appear in this feed. Keep in mind that small or very local earthquakes may take a few minutes to be processed and posted by USGS.

Question 2

How do I know if I felt an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Typical sensations include a sudden jolt, a rolling or swaying motion, objects rattling or swinging, doors or windows trembling, and a deep rumbling sound. Shallow earthquakes (under 70 km depth) tend to feel more abrupt and localised, while deeper events may produce a longer, gentler swaying. If you felt something unusual and cannot find a match in the list, it may have been below M2.0 or recorded in a different catalogue.

Question 3

What should I do after feeling an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Drop, cover, and hold on until the shaking stops. After it ends, check for injuries and hazards such as gas leaks, fires, or structural damage. Move outside if the building feels unsafe. Be prepared for aftershocks — smaller earthquakes that can follow the main event, sometimes within minutes. Aftershocks occur along the same fault and can occasionally be as strong as the original quake. Stay away from damaged structures and follow guidance from local emergency services.

Question 4

How do I report that I felt an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

You can submit a "Did You Feel It?" report directly to the USGS at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/dyfi/ — this takes about two minutes and helps scientists map ground shaking intensity across a region. Your felt report is combined with others to produce Community Internet Intensity Maps (CIIM), which improve understanding of how earthquakes affect people and structures.

Question 5

Why can't I find the earthquake I felt?

Accepted Answer

Small or moderate earthquakes typically appear in the USGS feed within 5–15 minutes of occurrence, as seismologists need time to process the raw waveform data. Very small events (below M2.0) may not be recorded at all if they fall below the detection threshold of the regional seismograph network. Events in remote areas can also take longer to appear. If you felt shaking but see nothing in the list, try expanding the time window to "Last 24 Hours" or check back in 15–20 minutes.

Did You Feel an Earthquake?

Frequently Asked Questions